Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-02
What Shall Sacramento Do >

EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN Above is an ar
ticle from the San Francisco Bulletin, t
which the attention of all your readers
should be called, and the question now
with lis to solve is, how can we secure some
of the benefits accruing to our neighbor:
in the southern part of the State? Shall
it be by drifting along waiting for some
thing to turn up" or shall we put oul
shoulders to the wheel, and by our work.
show that we have soil, climate and the
surroundings that will make living here
pleasant and attractive to all who may
visit us?
These people who are coming among us
are people who are in good circumstances
and are accustomed to thrifty and pros,
porous surroundings; are close observers
and judge of the thrift and prosperity of a
community by its appearance. Now, ask
of you, or any resident of Sacramento City
who has visited such cities as Cleveland
Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago, St Paul
Minneapolis, Kansas City, Omaha and
Denver-as these are cities through whom
Il large portion of our visitors pass in com.
ing here-what they imagine the i'm,
pressions of newcomer is as he steps from
the cars at our depot and walks along
Second street to view our city.
He reaches ! street, and the appearance
of Chinatown astonishes him, so he pro
ceeds to J street, and looks up that; see.
many small buildings, crooked and dilapi
dated-looking awnings, cloth and other
signs hanging in all shapes; electric-light
posts with arms like gallows trees; and he
wonders if this is the principal busines.
street of the Capital City of the great State
of California. And so continues his walk
to K street and looks up and down it, The
appearance he finds about the same as J
street, and so pursues his way along Sec
ond to l. street; and the sights and sur
| roundings there cause him to quicken hi:
steps toward VI street, the main avenue tC
the State Capitol. lie looks towards tn,
river, and notices the street nearly impas
sable with lumber, etc, in the carriage
way, to say nothing about sidewalks AnC
| then he looks up the street toward thu
Capitol building, and pursues his walk il
that direction, and after walking two o.
three blocks, he retraces his steps and get
aboard of the cars, and that is the last W,
see of him, because the sights presented t.
| his view are not such rs will strike
stranger favorably as TO our energy anC
thrift.
Another stranger comes looking fo
land and some friend volunteers his serv
ices and takes him out toward Brighton
and what does he see? Fences in poo
condition, scarcely any trees upon tbs
sides of road and after crossing the leve,
the road is rough and dirty, and foul
deadfalls are passed in less than three
miles, showing the necessity of much irri
gation-which, by the way, does not strike
| most Eastern people favorably, and finally
he arrives at Brighton or Perkins covered
with dust. He looks about him and no
| tees the character of the buildings, fences
and appearances of the land, and asks, hon
long have these people resided here :? He
is told that most of the people have lived
| here for thirty years or more. lie says t.
his friend, " | have seen enough If you
pleaeS, we will return" and away he goes
and so il will continue until our people
wake up.
How can il be done? The answer ha:
been given before in your paper, to wit
% Improve your sidewalks an streets
make awnings uniform; do away witt
ulthN Sl-hS usS llOtO iiAht t'ilN " iiieS"e'a
on buildings and fences; plant trees oil
sides of roads and around houses; grade
county roads; use the water now running
TO waste in irrigating your county.
When these things are done, and II vii
not happen until they are done, then vii
people of wealth and enterprise com
among us Then viii our city and count!
"boom population will be increased
new Improvements viii be made, and tn
water power at Folsom, which is about a
good as that at Minneapolis, will be use
| in manufactures to meet the increasing
demands of the community surrounding II
| These things can all be brought about,
each property-owner will stand in and d
his part, and not expect his neighbor t
do for both We cannot stand still "
must go ahead or go back. Which shall
be !? Ii remains with us to decide. L.
Sacramento June 80, 1897.